With the EN ISO 20345:2022 standard becoming mandatory in the EU and the UK, Chinese safety shoe manufacturers are facing a crucial compliance deadline. As of November 11, 2024, all protective footwear products entering the European market must meet the strict requirements of the revised standard. Otherwise, they will face high return costs.
Three key updates in the new standard
The revolution of waterproof labels
The universal "WR" logo has been replaced by two more precise classification standards:
S6: Basic waterproofing feature (able to withstand water intrusion for at least 60 minutes)
S7: Equipped with advanced waterproofing function and the sole adopts an air-permeable design.
Improvement in anti-slip testing
The current test uses steel plates and citric acid solution instead of ceramic tiles and glycerol. The old SRC classification has been replaced by the new sliding angle threshold (at least 15 degrees). Industry tests show that under the new regulations, 68% of the existing pattern designs failed to pass the test.
Electrical hazard extension
Shoes with heel heights exceeding 30 millimeters now require dielectric performance testing (15 kilovolts, for 1 minute). Solution: Replace the traditional metal heels with composite materials like Kevlar to meet this requirement.
Non-compliant goods will be detained at EU ports, and a disposal fee of 190 euros per unit will be required. They will also be added to the blacklist on the PPE website. However, the backlog of certifications in Turkey has created a 4-6 week window period for well-prepared Chinese suppliers, enabling them to gain market share.
Obtaining the EN ISO 20345:2022 certification is no longer an optional matter. This is crucial for entering the 930 million euro safety shoe market in Europe. Manufacturers that adopt a modular design and collaborate with flexible testing laboratories will lead this new regulatory era. Companies that delay action may permanently lose market share to well-prepared competitors.
